The art of writing fiction, whether a short story or a full-length novel - is complex, and can be daunting. This course will try to break down the process into its component parts:

- Getting started

- Deciding what your story will be about

- Establishing setting

- Developing characters

- Structuring your story

- Developing plot

- Publishing your story

Participants will write, read aloud, and discuss their work in class.

They should come equipped with writing materials or laptop. They should also bring to the first class a short piece of fiction or an extract that they admire and would hope to emulate.

Fiona Farrell has published fiction, non-fiction, poetry and plays. Her first novel won the New Zealand Book Award, and several others have been shortlisted for that award and longlisted for the International Dublin IMPAC Award. Her poetry has been widely anthologized and her plays include Chook Chook, one of Playmarket NZ’s most popular scripts. She has appeared at numerous festivals in New Zealand and overseas, and has also received many literary awards including the Mansfield Menton Fellowship, the Burns Fellowship and the Rathcoola Residency  in Donoughmore, Ireland.  In 2007 she received the Prime Minister’s Award for Fiction and in 2012 she received the ONZM for Services to Literature.